If you prepare a spreadsheet in Microsoft Excel or Google Sheets in which you soon have to process all kinds of data, it is useful to test operation with random data. Instead of losing time by inventing fake names and numbers yourself, you can generate that data in different ways.
Fake names
To fill a column of a spreadsheet with random names, you can use an online generator like ListofRandomNames.com. Unfortunately this page contains a lot of advertising, especially use an adblocker. First you determine how many names you want. Should it be men or women, or would you like a list of mixed names? You can also indicate whether you only want the first names. The last option Create names using aliteration ensures that the first and last names start with the same sound. That way you get combinations like ‘Lauren Lora’ and ‘Roland Russi.’ Then click on the button Generate and then you can output the list as text or as a PDF document. The last option Lorem Ipsum puts the names in a fake text, but the usefulness of this option completely escapes us. In this case, choose the first option and you can simply copy and paste that text list into a spreadsheet column.
Random numbers
To fill a column or row with random numbers, use the function = ASELECT (). If you type this formula in a cell, Excel enter any number between 0 and 1. Then drag the fill handle to extend the formula to multiple cells. This formula causes the random numbers to change every time the worksheet is calculated. If you want random natural numbers between 1 and 100, you can have them generated by the formula Random numbers in a range. By the way, you can have these numbers changed quickly by pressing F9.
Random numbers in a range
There is also a way to generate random numbers between two certain values. For example, if you want to see numbers between 100 and 500, you use the formula = ASELECT BETWEEN (100, 500). The formula = ASELECT () * 100 returns a random number greater than or equal to 0 and less than 100. Again, you can round the numbers using the function INTEGER. The formula then becomes = INTEGER (ASELECT (100; 500)).
